Foxconn's interest might stem from a desire to use fewer human workers in its Chinese factories. It could deploy robotics to automate some of its manufacturing processes.

"Foxconn needs Google's help to step up automation at its factories as the company has the lowest sales per employee among the contract makers, given its large workforce," said Wanli Wang, an analyst at CIMB Securities to the Wall Street Journal.

"Using robots to replace human workers would be the next big thing in the technology industry. Not just Google, other major technology companies such as Microsoft and Amazon also have been developing robotics technology to capture the future growth opportunities."

The Wall Street Journal reckons that the moves are designed to enable Google to become more involved in manufacturing and help it compete with companies like Amazon. µ